Curriculum 

Intent 

At Holly Lodge, we provide a curriculum that is uniquely challenging, coherent and created by subject experts who ensure that all pupils achieve broad and balanced subject expertise. Our core curriculum aims are: 

• Give pupils the knowledge, understanding and skills to progress onto the next stage of their education, irrespective of their prior attainment, background or ethnicity.  
• Instil pupils with high aspiration, resilience and independence so that they can maximise the opportunities they are given to progress.  

• Provide pupils with a range of opportunities to help them become responsible citizens who can make a positive contribution to society.  

Curriculum Design 

Our curriculum is designed to recognise prior learning and is coherently sequenced to ensure that learners are rich in knowledge and skills. We deliver the National Curriculum in a way which is appropriate to our city, our area and our school. 

Key Stage 3 

Key Stage 4 

Key Stage 5 

There are 5 options columns within Key Stage 5 which cover over 20 different subjects available for students to study. These qualifications are a mix of both academic and applied general, allowing for students to have access to a range of destinations. 

Students will study 3 level 3 qualifications, and all study programmes are designed to ensure that students can reach their desired destinations primarily university and higher-level apprenticeships. Students have access to an in-school programme which includes enrichment opportunities, volunteering, in person work experience and activities to develop their education in SRE, IAG and health & wellbeing. 

 Students will have at least 5 hours per week of teaching for each subject they study. All students also have two supervised study sessions per week and 20minutes of form time each day. Additionally, year 12 have an extra hour of study plus a taught lesson comprising of a mix of PHSE, study skills, social action projects, online work experience and UCAS preparation.  

Those students who have yet to achieve a grade 4 in Maths or English will also attend at least 2 hours of lesson to prepare them for resits in October or June. 

The Holly Lodge offer 

This offer is our promise to parents and pupils, which covers the 3 main areas of school life. 

Partnerships  

At Holly Lodge, we work with several different partners to enhance the curriculum and provide the pupils with ample opportunities both inside and outside of school. Examples of some of the partners we work with include: 

Form time 

Form Time is an integral part of every school day. In Years 7 to 10 pupils follow a weekly programme including Reading, Numeracy, basics checks and assemblies. Pupils of all abilities who require extra support in either English or Maths are placed temporarily in forms with an appropriate teacher to help them to catch up. In Year 11 pupils are placed in English, Maths or Science forms according to the subject they require most support in. 

Personal Development 

Personal development, encompassing PSHE, RSE, CEIAG, enrichment and British Values, is woven throughout our curriculum to support with developing well-rounded young people who can contribute positively to society. More in-depth information about each of these aspects can be found on our personal development page. 

Whole school teaching and learning strategies 

To support the implementation of our curriculum, our staff have received regular, high quality CPD, in what we call our teaching and learning manifesto’s. These are the expectations of every pupil in the classroom to ensure they make the most out of every lesson.